Day 18: Jetina's Island!

[Iron Dragoon]

Session Start: Mon Nov 10 12:10:40 2014
Session Ident: #evildunes
* Now talking in #evildunes
* Topic is 'Lucy(29)>Moore(26)>Veren(24)>Pepo(21)>Ship(4) '
* Set by Kotono on Wed Nov 05 12:32:24
<Kotono> > <Lucy> "Now this is interesting!" Lucy says happily. "How much training are we talking about, here?"
<Kotono> > > "A fair deal," Kamhoff says, "Knowing about it and training to properly use it is another thing altogether."
<Kotono> > <Lucy> "More than, say, this month of travel? At a rough estimate?"
<Kotono> > > "Probably," Old Kamhoff says, "It's not a light investment. More like the studies of 'arcane divining', as he put it, or a light mage. Useful, but it's a serious pursuit."
<Kotono> > <Lucy> "Ah. Speaking of them -- the arcane diviners, not the people who claw their eyes out and then scoop out their brains -- how difficult is the training? Must you truly seek out someone to teach you, or is it possible to do it via self-study?"
* Moore (~ryan.scud@97.97.130.179) has joined #evildunes
<Kotono> "I've always heard it takes one of those serpents to teach you. Maybe if you found a practitioner, but they're secret arts, not study them for a week at home and learn them arts." Old Kamhoff grins at that, "Besides, it's a reason to go find one, if you're really sold on serpents."
<Lucy> "I must say I'm fairly neutral on the entire serpent thing."
<Moore> "Well, it's likely that we'd find someone who knew enough runic magic to study from at our destination, isn't it?" Moore asks.
<Lucy> "Perhaps, but it is not really for me," Lucy muses. "It sounds like too much of an investment. Certainly, it is a versatile doctrine, but also a trap. One's skills would deteriorate in the process, and you would be relying on something like a crutch."
<Kotono> "It's your best place for awhile," Kamhoff agrees, "Now if you fucking ask me, it's good if you need the versatility. Some types aren't fond of the religious but want that useful healing. Plus they don't like music players, who can do that without divine magic," A nod to Moore.
<Lucy> "So this settles the main things in my research notes. Now all that remains is to slowly go over every bit of trivia again to make sure nothing of interest was lost," Lucy decides.
<Kotono> OOC: Good there, then
<Kotono> ?
<Moore> OOC: Sure
<Lucy> OOC: Yes
<Kotono> OOC: I'll move you along in a few, probably combine rooms once #dunes is done.


<Kotono> ---


Session Start: Mon Nov 10 12:04:23 2014
Session Ident: #dunes
* Now talking in #dunes
* Topic is 'Lief(33)>Muirfinn(25)>Ellese(22)Balyss(16)>Canoloth Pack(11) '
* Set by Kotono on Wed Nov 05 21:40:48
<Kotono> ---
<Kotono> It's a peaceful time on the ship as you travel. Pepo and Veren are fairly near old Kamhoff's lab when suddenly the world shudders and shakes. A loud BOOOOOM comes from the lab, followed by Old Kamhoff's cry of, "Eureka!"
* Veren looks down at Pepo with a raised eyebrow.
* Veren sighs a little and heads into the lab.
<Pepo> Pepo gets up and pads after Veren, just to see what all the fuss is about.
<Kotono> Inside is Kamhoff's old hound. He's asleep, seemingly undisturbed and untouched by the soot that covers everything else. Kamhoff stands in the middle of the room, eyebrows scorched off and form covered in black soot. Nonetheless, he holds a familiar mithral bracelet. "Got one!" he declares. "I just had to mix the potion and the coins, then change the magical aura polarity of the potion into the
<Kotono> bracelet and there we are!"
<Veren > "... Alright. What did it produce? Also... Have you considered a... larger window or sky light to funnel the soot from these things outside?"
<Pepo> 'Does it do anything interesting?' Pepo asks, walking over to get a better look.
* Veren looks around the lab, and makes a point not to touch anything.
<Kotono> "Oh, Macaron'll take care of it," Old Kamhoff waves a hand, presenting the bracelet. "It makes you faster and can turn your weapons silver." OOC: Kamhoff's lab is updated, go over there for details.
<Pepo> Pepo looks at it for a long moment, tail swishing slowly back and forth before he deems it no longer interesting and saunters back the way he came.
<Veren > "And you produced it with a potion and coins? That.. would not be a result I would expect."
<Kotono> "That's why it's magic," Old Kamhoff laughs, "Oi cat, why are you leaving?"
<Veren > "Still, I am impressed."
<Pepo> Pepo stops and looks back. 'I heard the noise and came to investigate. Now I have so I'm going back to my sleep.'
<Kotono> "I swear, you're going to sleep your life away," Old Kamhoff grumbles, "You should eat some salted meat and do something manly, like drive the ship bare-chested!"
<Veren > "I rather think he lacks the mass to do so."
<Pepo> 'I like my fur,' Pepo says in parting before continuing away to resume his nap. After he cleans his paws anyway.
<Kotono> OOC: Ready to move on then?
<Veren > OOC: I am.
<Kotono> A week and a half of travel has passed. It's been unremarkable, as much as any can mark time in the endless glow. At last you see an island ahead - a small rocky surge above the glow. It's perhaps 500ft  long and half that wide, a rocky ring of ground surrounding a lake. "Bolethon, slow course and make for a safe docking there," he points, "We're going to go out, stretch our legs and get some
<Kotono> fresh water."
<Pepo> Pepo climbs up onto the railing to look at the island as they draw nearer.
<Kotono> OOC: Perception, Pepo.
* Lucy doesn't deem this interesting enough to leave her research behind.
<Moore> Moore flutters around and looks around for any other ships that might be docked there!
<Pepo> roll 1d20+16
* Hatbot --> "Pepo rolls 1d20+16 and gets 31." 12 [1d20=15]
<Kotono> Pepo can note something on the far side of the lake - something or someone lying there? Hard to see with the glow. That might-ooooooooh! Ooooh! A fish! A fish just jumped in the lake! A real fish!  OOC: Spot, Moore.
<Moore> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Moore rolls 1d20+12 and gets 14." 12 [1d20=2]
<Pepo> Pepo starts to purr happily.
<Kotono> Moore sees there's no other ships here - looks empty enough.
<Kotono> OOC: Veren?
<Veren > roll 1d20+12 Perception
* Hatbot --> "Veren rolls 1d20+12 Perception and gets 17." 12 [1d20=5]
<Kotono> OOC: I meant if you were going to do anything.
<Veren > OOC: Wander and explore a bit, I guess.
<Kotono> Veren can see something odd, on the far side of the lake. Someone or something lying there. Hard to see with the glow. Oh, and a fish jumps out of the lake.
* Veren heads towards it, sticking to the shadows until he can better make out what it is.
<Kotono> Old Kamhoff hops on down, "Aaah, solid land beneath my feet once more." He kneels down and starts to study the rock, "Igneous rock, as expected," he murmurs, taking out a chisel and working a few bits off.
<Pepo> Pepo jumps off and circles his way around the lake to see what that thing on the far end is. Then he can set to the serious business of fishing!
<Kotono> Unfortunately, there's no real shadows or places to hide on the shores of the glow like this. But getting closer, you can see it looks like an skin and bones woman - human, perhaps. She's wearing plate armor that just cloaks her, it's so heavy. There's a weapon besides her too, a wide sword. She barely moves as Veren and Pepo approach. "Ugbg..." is the only noise she makes. Short brown hair,
<Kotono> extremely drawn and gaunt features otherwise.
<Moore> "Are rocks from the light different from normal ones?" Moore asks, hovering near Kamhoff. "I mean... I guess I still need a lesson in how this world works, but I'd think there'd be some big differences."
<Pepo> 'Are you hungry?' Pepo's invasive voice booms inside the gaunt woman's psyche.
* Veren subtly kicks the blade away from her hand as he looks her over before turning to wave at Kamhoff to get his attention and call him over.
<Kotono> "You get igneous rock near the shores and the larger islands have sedimentary and metamorphic rocks in the interior," Kamhoff remarks, "But every so often you see odd rocks or rocks that have changed against all logic." He shrugs. "I think I mentioned the prevailing idea it that this realm is a demiplane? It means the rules are whatever or whomever made this say they are, and no one knows what
<Kotono> those rules are. WE can only guess."
<Kotono> "Foooood..." she drawls aloud, entire form wracked. "Not...not fish. Allergic." She turns her head to look about, eyes empty, "So hungry. Marooned."
* Veren pauses for a moment and reaches into his pack, pulling out his Everfull Mug and Everlasting Rations for her until Kamhoff comes over.
<Veren > OOC: Is he close enough to hear me if I yell?
<Kotono> OOC: Sure.
* Veren turns back to Kamhoff and draws a deep breath and yelling to him.
<Pepo> About to go fetch one of his rats Pepo is saved from the trouble by Veren's intervention. 'Why were you marooned?' he asks, since it's the sort of cruel punishment that must relate to a heinous crime.
<Veren > "Kamhoff! I need you over here!"
<Moore> "Oh, that sounds important." Moore remarks before he starts to head in Veren's direction.
<Kotono> "It does." Old Kamhoff straightens up, "Coming!" he shouts back. Meanwhile, the woman looks at the mug and rations hopefully, "Please?" she says weakly. "Disagreement with the captain," he says, "I...wooah." She closes her eyes, "D-dizzy." She struggles to sit up and fails. "Allergic to fish. He said I could eat fish here, but I'm allergic. Wait for someone to stop by."
* Veren kneels down and helps her eat and drink.
<Pepo> roll 1d20+14 sense motive, is she legit?
* Hatbot --> "Pepo rolls 1d20+14 sense motive, is she legit? and gets 22." 12 [1d20=8]
<Veren > OOC: Can I roll for the same or to assist?
<Kotono> She seems legit to Pepo. OOC: Can't really assist sense motive. Do you have any ranks in Heal or the like?
<Veren > OOC: Nope!
<Moore> OOC: I do if needed.
<Pepo> Content to take her at her word, Pepo climbs up onto the woman's lap and settles himself down to lend his comforting presence while she eats. Fish can wait a little while.
<Kotono> She slowly eats - she's less interested in the water. She takes a few bites and shudders, before starting to eat faster. Meanwhile Kamhoff makes it over, "Found a stray, did you?" He rubs his chin, "Marooned or a newborn?"
<Pepo> 'Marooned,' Pepo tells him. 'Disagreement with her captain.'
<Kotono> OOC: Feel free to make a check, Moore.
<Moore> roll 1d20+10 be healed
* Hatbot --> "Moore rolls 1d20+10 be healed and gets 25." 12 [1d20=15]
<Kotono> "Damned ugly business," Old Kamhoff says, snapping his fingers. "Moore," he says, "Could you go back to the ship and check behind the big table in my lab? There's a stretcher there. Get Lucy to help you carry it out." Meanwhile, Moore can see she's in a state of extreme starvation. She's near death.
<Veren > "That ration won't last long. We're short on supplies, correct Kamhoff?"
<Moore> "I've got more rations if we need them. She'll probably need them since she's extremely starved. I'll bring the stretcher and we can take the food issue from there." Moore says before he starts to fly back to the ship!
<Pepo> 'She can eat my salt-meat. Lots of fish here.'
<Veren > "We need to catch the fish first. I've not tried fishing often before."
<Kotono> Meanwhile she eats, finishing the food quickly, "Ah," she murmurs, "Stomach hurts," she whimpers.
<Veren > "If you eat too fast, that usually happens, yes."
<Kotono> "Get some fishing going," Kamhoff agrees, "Start farming the fish like the fucking rats."
<Pepo> Climbing off of her now, Pepo goes to see about catching some fish. No need to stop at just one!
* Veren moves to begin removing her armor, so she can move with less effort.
<Kotono> She wears simple clothes and padding beneath it. She's still skin and bones, noted as Lucy and Moore return with the stretcher. "Oooooh," she groans weakly, "Careful, the armor's a family heirloom."
* Lucy makes a note to look into the armor for any unique enchantments later. Family heirlooms are the best source for those.
* Veren nods to her and packs the armor and sword up as best he can.
<Kotono> Soon enough she's loaded on up, the group heading back to the ship. In the background, Pepo bats another fish out of the water, getting a bit wet despite catching another one.  Soon enough she's in bed - out cold. Moore's assessment can tell him that her body has absolutely no energy due to starvation, so this isn't unexpected. But she needs more food and to be stirred fairly soon. Meanwhile...OOC:
<Kotono> Quick spellcraft, Lucy. Pepo, I assume fish catching is mundane enough to be unremarkable since you'll cheat anyway.
<Lucy> roll 1d20+16
* Hatbot --> "Lucy rolls 1d20+16 and gets 19." 12 [1d20=3]
<Veren > OOC: Can't Moore give you a boost or something?
<Moore> OOC: I could if you'd like me to do so.
<Moore> OOC: Okay, I'll spend the Inspire and item to give +7 to the spellcraft
<Kotono> OOC: Both armor and weapon have basic +1 enchantments. Nice but unremarkable otherwise.
* Lucy looks severely disappointed.
<Kotono> As Lucy figures out what's what with the armor, the woman stirs in the bunk she's been put in. She doesn't even make a noise as her eyes open, half open and bleary. "Are you still here?" she asks softly.
<Lucy> "Yes," Lucy answers her. "Can't sleep?"
<Kotono> "Dizzy. Groggy." Slowly struggling to sit up and failing, she falls back with a little whimper. "OW!" After that, "I...I'm Jetina Jerara of Falbard. And...I'm really, really hungry."
<Lucy> "Moore, some of the rations if you will?" Lucy requests, before introducing herself simply as 'Lucy'.
<Veren > "Do you need my assistance here, or should I help Pepo with the fishing?"
<Moore> "Oh, sure!" Moore says as he withdraws his own, casting a quick Prestidigitation on them to make them taste like some nice, fresh-baked bread. "Here you go, but slowly, okay?"
<Kotono> She eats slower this time, focusing on it with a laser ferocity. After demolishing it in good time, "T-thank you. I...I'd offer my services in exchange for passage, but my sword arm's like a sword noodle now," she chuckles weakly, holding up a bone-thin arm.
* Veren moves to leave, to help Pepo carry back the fish he's caught.
<Lucy> "For the future," Lucy remarks, "it might be better not to improve the taste when feeding a person that hungry."
<Moore> "Maybe!" Moore admits. Hey, don't worry about helping us right now, we'll get you back on your feet."
<Kotono> "T-thanks," she says, "I can pay you back another way. If I can get to civilization and get a holy symbol of Qupan, I can heal wounds."
<Lucy> "Oh? Describe this holy symbol," Lucy instructs her, ready to take notes. "Also, the locations where it would be sold."
<Kotono> "It's two rings merged together," she replies, "Any holy temple of Qupan would sell them to the faithful."
<Lucy> "And which of the nearby islands would have those temples? Ah, does it actually have to be a temple?"
<Kotono> Lying back and resting as she replies, "Um, we're near Freeport Rock? There's a small one there. Hills...far? Mar? There's one there too, I think. Informally. Not in Rossalund."
<Moore> Moore thinks there proooobably isn't much actually in Rossalund, but now really isn't the time for that sort of discussion.
<Lucy> "Sounds simple enough," Lucy muses, asking next, "Isn't it a casting aid, and the power comes from you? Why couldn't a blacksmith make a symbol of two interlocking rings and then give it to you?"
<Kotono> "It has to be sanctified," she replies. "Or it won't work."
* Lucy blinks. "You can use it, but not sanctify it?"
<Kotono> She shrugs helplessly, "You need an altar and holy water to do that."
<Lucy> "And you need the symbol to create holy water, while the altar, too, must be sanctified. Of course." This is exactly why she hates this branch of magic.
<Kotono> A thin smile is Lucy's reply. "That's the catch."
<Lucy> "Luckily for you, our destination holds a suitable temple. I trust we can wait that long?"
<Kotono> A nod is Lucy's answer. From there a few days pass.  Pepo has a wonderful cache of fish now to along with his rat farm. It's morning, as much as anyone reckons such here. The first meal of the day is being served in the galley, everyone here but Kamhoff, who mans the helm for a bit. This includes Jetina, who insists on stumbling out to join the others. Over a mix of new and old rations, "So,"
<Kotono> Jetina asks, "Are you all first generationers?"
<Lucy> "Yes. And yourself?"
<Kotono> "Oh, of course not," she gasps, "I mean no, no. We can trace our linage back ten generations! Ten!"
<Pepo> 'So you can recall your entire life?' Pepo rumbles in her mind.
<Kotono> "Of course," she says, before, "Oooooh. You might not know that. I was born in this realm. I'm the descendant of newborns."
<Lucy> "That much was clear after you mentioned generations," Lucy says dryly. "Does it convey a special status in society? Nobility, perhaps?"
<Pepo> How nice for her, Pepo thinks with some jealousy as he rests his head on his forelegs and stares at her.
<Kotono> "Well, most of the well off in Falbard have at least five generations behind them," she explains, "A little less for the long lived minorities, but it's primarily a human land." She pauses to eat, relatively graceful despite a shake to her hands. She looks to Pepo and reaches out to pet his head, "But that's because more generations mean more time to build up money and resources, of course. All
<Kotono> that hard work pays off for later generations."
<Moore> "I suppose that makes sense." Moore remarks. "Where exactly is Falbard? Er... Well, I guess its location relative to Freeport or something, since I'm not familiar with the geography around here..."
* Lucy blinks, asking Jetina, "How far back does anyone's lineage go, as far as you know?"
<Kotono> "The Thaens go back fourteen generations," She sighs at that, "But they're the founding family of Falbard." Pausing to spear a bit of dried meat and eat it, "They claim to have been the first newborns on Falbard."
<Lucy> "So... given humans and a generational gap of twenty years, Falbard would have been established some three centuries ago?"
<Kotono> "Centuries? Oh right, centuries and years? That's about right. We measure by generations, which is 20 per generation. 15 and 1/3rd generation." She pauses to keep eating, going at a fast pace despite also chatting.
<Kotono> After answering that, "As to its location? Well to the west and southwest of where we are now. I've been traveling for approximately..." she pauses, "I think I determined it was a year or two, as the common measurement goes."
<Moore> Moore nods. "Do you want to go back there, if you had the opportunity?"
<Kotono> "Some day," she says, "But I want to bring back a lot of good things for the family first."
<Moore> "Well, if the sort of things you find from an exploding ship submerged in a light lagoon count, then you probably found the right people!"